LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Middletown, Connecticut police officer Francesca Quaranta found a hostile work environment following her transition. She then filed a complaint with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and requested administrative time off. The complaint is still pending
However, Mayor Daniel Drew says ‘the city done everything possible to create a safe and welcoming environment for her’ and that an internal investigation came up with no cause for Quaranta to complain.
In a fitness-for-duty evaluation, the psychologist found ‘Quaranta is not able to safely return to her duties as a police officer.’ Mayor Drew said that this finding, along with Quaranta exhausting her leave pay, was reason to terminate her employment.
Quaranta in the Hartford Courant: “We’re going to continue this fight until the end. In 2014 this is completely unacceptable. I will continue until I ensure that no other person in my situation will have to face this again.”
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I’m not so sure why the mayor would pull the plug with the pending human rights commission complaint still on the table. The mayor also seems to not really understand the fitness-for-duty findings either. I’d say this is a case lawyers would scramble to take.
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Lexie Cannes — a great award-winning feature film about a trans woman. Watch it right now: http://www.amazon.com/Lexie-Cannes-CourtneyODonnell/dp/B00KEYH3LQ Or get the DVD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/
Read Lexie Cannes in The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/courtney-odonnell/
Categories: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Law Enforcement, Police, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS 
The same state that completely mishandled the trans teenage “Jane Doe”.
Am I sensing a pattern here?
Although we might have Transgender Human Rights Law on the books here in Connecticut, there will always be some employer who is willing to transgress that law. Or in other words, they will try to trump up some kind of BS that they think will get around that law, be it attendance, tardiness, or any other trivial work related matter. They tried that on me, only to find themselves summoned to the hearing where I questioned other employees about their work related ‘transgressions’ where the employer looked the other way when it involved those people. Upon showing similar situations, I won the case and received a settlement by showing discrimination in all alleged instances.
It’s important to collect every piece of written document, including State labor forms where they tried to withhold your unemployment pay, the State’s determination of your unemployment pay hearing, workman’s comp and their allegation rebuttal to your claim, that the employer submitted. Always remember, no matter how much it hurts, send a letter of request for reconsideration of rehire to the employer via registered mail. All these will further aid in tightening your employers noose. Also cite the employers allegation rebuttal line for line where you disagree with your employer’s claims.
MUY DURA LA SITUACION PARA NOSOTRAS LAS MUJERES TRANSEXUALES, EN TODAS LAS PARTES DEL MUNDO.
Francesca Quaranta wrote this letter to the editor of the Middletown Press:
To the Editor:
Mayor Drew stated at first I was a troubled employee, and then stated I was an outstanding employee. Which is it? For 20 years, I did what was asked of me without question. My personnel files from all three departments speak for themselves.
After telling them I am transgender, I immediately was viewed differently. Rules changed for all the female officers. Chief McKenna stated because of me, the rules had to change. Almost all of the females wore their hair past their collar and many wore earrings in uniform for more than 25 years. No one cared or noticed until me, which caused hard feelings/isolation towards me.
I reported to Human Relations Director Faith Jackson that Lt. DelMauro wrote me up for my hair repeatedly even after this hairstyle was approved by the chief! Chief McKenna forgot the conversation, then remembered, but allowed her write-ups to stand stating it was done in “good faith.”
Two weeks prior, Lt. DelMauro was on the desk with Officer Brandy Liseo and they had their hair down past their collars! I asked Jackson to view the tape, which didn’t happen! Statements were altered after the completed investigation. “Fair and unbiased?” Really?
Earrings: Former Chief Lynn Baldoni wearing them in a news interview.
Hair: Middletown PD Home Page shows Officer Brandy Liseo openly displaying the same style of hair I was written up for, twice. No clips, not pinned up, and clearly touching her collar. Lt. Desmond’s recent press conference shows hair extending way past her collar.
More examples: A male lieutenant and two sergeants talking in front of my co-worker about me performing sexual acts with men and expressing their thoughts! The same male lieutenant stating at “sensitivity training” that he would never sit on the desk with me again due to my transition!
Lt. Maturo stating the reason my professional life had changed was because I lied to him and them about MY personal life! A sergeant screaming at and embarrassing me over the radio for no reason, reported, with many witnesses! Derogatory comments reported by me that was made by a firefighter, in public. And recently, a dispatcher made a derogatory comment!
Drew stated there was only one issue involving a sergeant and they acted swiftly. Said sergeant was disciplined almost a year later, after I filed a Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities complaint. This comment was witnessed by an entire roll call room with supervisors present!
Drew stated he is a huge supporter, specifically of “transgender rights!” Drew is a bully and a hypocrite!
Alternative city employment offers consisted of $10,000 to $25,000 a year less and had probation periods attached with threat of termination if I didn’t accept.
Drew made reference to the taxpayers paying me to stay home. Statement made when I was on unemployment which they tried to contest and lost! I was not allowed to return after Dr. Randall’s forced evaluation! Re-certification cancelled three times, before leave, during and after.
One incident? Really? Mayor Drew, second evaluation for what? What has changed? Depressed, who wouldn’t be? Anxiety, of course! Not trusting, how could I be? Your administration ruined my career and my life! All I wanted was to be held in the same regard professionally as I had been prior and granted the acceptance to live as I choose. That’s my right in 2014!
Francesca Quaranta
Middletown Police Officer
Newington
http://www.middletownpress.com/opinion/20140630/letter-fired-transgender-middletown-police-officer-speaks-out
From the Middleton Press:
http://www.middletownpress.com/opinion/20140817/letter-medical-privacy-rights-for-police-chief-transgender-officer-a-double-standard
To the Editor:
I read Middletown Director of Human Relations Faith Jackson’s investigation this past week into transgender police officer Francesca Quaranta’s complaint. She concludes “no wrongdoing found” by the police department or the City of Middletown. However during the time of her investigation, an officer was suspended without pay for derogatory remarks made directly to Officer Quaranta in front of many witnesses.
Why didn’t she look further into this matter as well as other obvious complaints that had been made?
Is it she doesn’t know what she is doing, she didn’t care to bother, or she was protecting the city from liability?
It’s bad enough that Mayor Dan Drew made a fool out of Gov. Malloy, as well as the House of Representatives, in regards to the harassment bill signed back in 2011 prohibiting workplaces from harassing transgender persons (HB-6599).
This bill also prohibits employers from making decisions/changes based on race, gender or gender identity and expression, such as initially separate rules for her and followed by a drastic change of the rules for all females solely based on Officer Quaranta’s transition.
My letter last week was an attempt to convince the bullies to come out from their hiding place and own up to what they had created. But obviously, based on the lack of names/ranks used in my letter, they decided to run back into their rabbit hole.
My question is this: Why was Officer Quaranta forced to sign away her HIPPA/medical privacy at the threat of termination but the chief of police is allowed to refuse? Is his privacy more important and above others? Or does he just not want the truth to come out?
Why is Gov. Malloy’s office, as well as Sen. Blumenthal’s, the only ones investigating or trying to assist at this point? And finally why has the retirement board postponed Officer Quaranta’s hearing from August, to September, and now “rumored to possibly be heard in October or November?”
Sounds like a financial draining tactic to me.
David D’Amico
New Britain
Wow! A derogatory remark. Was there any mention of what might have provoked the remark? Why is it that the fringe elements of society are ALWAYS made out to be the victim and NEVER the instigator.